In an interview with the Daily Beast last week, Joseph was asked what he thought about some stars saying that they don't want to be labeled as feminists. Our number one guy says his parents taught him the importance of feminist history at an early age (thank you, Mr. and Ms. Gordon-Levitt!), so now he strives to set an example of feminism worth following. Here's what he said:

"Coming out against the label? Wow. I guess I'm not aware of that. What that means to me is that you don't let your gender define who you are—you can be who you want to be, whether you're a man, a woman, a boy, a girl, whatever. However you want to define yourself, you can do that and should be able to do that, and no category ever really describes a person because every person is unique. That, to me, is what 'feminism' means.

So yes, I'd absolutely call myself a feminist. And if you look at history, women are an oppressed category of people. There's a long, long history of women suffering abuse, injustice, and not having the same opportunities as men, and I think that's been very detrimental to the human race as a whole. I'm a believer that if everyone has a fair chance to be what they want to be and do what they want to do, it's better for everyone. It benefits society as a whole."

JGL's quote is sexy, yes, but it also shows how the advancement of gender equality depends on support from both women and men. While it's totally encouraging to hear female stars (like Katy Perry) advocate feminism, it's also important to hear male perspectives.

The benefits of both genders supporting feminism extend far beyond politics. Experts at Rutgers University found that women whose male partners are feminists report better relationship quality, while men with feminist partners experience more sexual satisfaction and relationship stability—talk about a win-win situation! So for a happier, healthier romance (and overall improved quality of life), learn how to date like a feminist, and make sure your guy takes a page (or 10) out of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's book.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.